Participatory neighborhood canteens to (re)connect people
Action zones
Grand Est
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Île-de-France
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Hauts-de-France
The project
SolidarityFood
Les Petites Cantines are participatory, free-price neighborhood restaurants. Diners can come and cook and/or share a meal - everyone is welcome! The aim is to encourage people to get together, (re)forge links and build confidence in themselves, others and the future.
97,5
%guests feel welcome as they are, without having to play a role.
54 000
reviewswere served in 2023 in the 13 Petites Cantines opened.
88
%of guests feel confident with other guests, including those they don't know.
Solution
Have you ever been in a waiting room? On a train? Or at a bus stop? If so, you've probably already exchanged those little smiles, those characteristic nods with the strangers present with you. These are people you don't know, who you'll only see briefly, and who will probably quickly slip from your mind.
Now imagine that these people, the neighbor on the TGV, the person you hold the door for, the shopkeeper you see every day... Imagine that all these people, along with you, are invited to a shared lunch. A lunch in a place that's big but not too big, with a simple, good meal, a place that's a little bit your home, a little bit theirs... That's the proposal we're making at Les Petites Cantines.
Concretely, it's like a big open kitchen at the foot of a building, a restaurant where the residents are the chefs, a sort of home, run by a Canteen Manager, in charge of making sure everyone feels good. And in the end, everyone pays for their meal at a free price, which covers the majority of the restaurant's running costs.
Now imagine that these people, the neighbor on the TGV, the person you hold the door for, the shopkeeper you see every day... Imagine that all these people, along with you, are invited to a shared lunch. A lunch in a place that's big but not too big, with a simple, good meal, a place that's a little bit your home, a little bit theirs... That's the proposal we're making at Les Petites Cantines.
Concretely, it's like a big open kitchen at the foot of a building, a restaurant where the residents are the chefs, a sort of home, run by a Canteen Manager, in charge of making sure everyone feels good. And in the end, everyone pays for their meal at a free price, which covers the majority of the restaurant's running costs.
News
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4 teams, 4 territories, 2 days of training!
Last week, 4 teams from 4 different territories came together at Les Petites Cantines Vieux Lyon to attend two intense days of training:
🔹 One day dedicated to "Shared governance and collective intelligence":
Learning to collaborate, to reveal everyone's talents and to make decisions together, is what enables us to build a strong, united community. These shared moments were rich in exchanges and learning.
🔹A day to learn how to "Prepare for the opening and best practices":
Valuable lessons on sustaining commitment and employer posture.
The projects of Les Petites Cantines Bagnolet (opening soon!) and Les Petites Cantines Villefranche-sur-Saône, and the Rouans - Campus Fertile and AU TIERS LIEU third places in Senlis were able to deepen their knowledge, in an atmosphere of collective learning.
Precious moments, which our participants speak best of:
✨ "We were able to reassure ourselves with good practices and have all the necessary tools"
✨ "It's possible, it works, and seeing people in real life motivates even more!"
✨ "Meeting other project leaders and benefiting from their expertise is enriching"
A huge thank you to the participants and trainers for their commitment and enthusiasm!
We can't wait to see these projects grow and share this great adventure with you!
🔹 One day dedicated to "Shared governance and collective intelligence":
Learning to collaborate, to reveal everyone's talents and to make decisions together, is what enables us to build a strong, united community. These shared moments were rich in exchanges and learning.
🔹A day to learn how to "Prepare for the opening and best practices":
Valuable lessons on sustaining commitment and employer posture.
The projects of Les Petites Cantines Bagnolet (opening soon!) and Les Petites Cantines Villefranche-sur-Saône, and the Rouans - Campus Fertile and AU TIERS LIEU third places in Senlis were able to deepen their knowledge, in an atmosphere of collective learning.
Precious moments, which our participants speak best of:
✨ "We were able to reassure ourselves with good practices and have all the necessary tools"
✨ "It's possible, it works, and seeing people in real life motivates even more!"
✨ "Meeting other project leaders and benefiting from their expertise is enriching"
A huge thank you to the participants and trainers for their commitment and enthusiasm!
We can't wait to see these projects grow and share this great adventure with you!
Our appearance on the "La Recette" podcast!
Julie Van Ossel, journalist and creator of the podcast "La Recette", came to settle in at the tables of Les Petites Cantines! 🍽️
After meeting our co-founder Diane Dupré la Tour, she was able to immerse herself in the world and history of our project. That's how she came up with the idea of producing 4 episodes to listen to this summer. In them, you can hear Diane, guests and canteen managers give heartfelt testimonials in the image of Les Petites Cantines.🫶
How can we transform a life ordeal into a project with impact?
What role does eating play in building our relationships?
How can a neighborhood restaurant succeed in overturning the codes of our society?
These are all questions we ask ourselves as the episodes unfold, which will help you to better understand the central role played by Petites Cantines in creating social ties and local solidarity.🪢
To listen to it, it's here 👉 https://smartlink.ausha.co/la-recette/extrait-diane-dupre-la-tour-celle-qui-donne-le-gout-des-autres
Through these four episodes, Julie Van Ossel explores the behind-the-scenes of Les Petites Cantines with sensitivity and depth.🥄
After meeting our co-founder Diane Dupré la Tour, she was able to immerse herself in the world and history of our project. That's how she came up with the idea of producing 4 episodes to listen to this summer. In them, you can hear Diane, guests and canteen managers give heartfelt testimonials in the image of Les Petites Cantines.🫶
How can we transform a life ordeal into a project with impact?
What role does eating play in building our relationships?
How can a neighborhood restaurant succeed in overturning the codes of our society?
These are all questions we ask ourselves as the episodes unfold, which will help you to better understand the central role played by Petites Cantines in creating social ties and local solidarity.🪢
To listen to it, it's here 👉 https://smartlink.ausha.co/la-recette/extrait-diane-dupre-la-tour-celle-qui-donne-le-gout-des-autres
Through these four episodes, Julie Van Ossel explores the behind-the-scenes of Les Petites Cantines with sensitivity and depth.🥄
Thank you to her for her investment and this spotlight. ✨
The money will be used for
- Developing the network: helping teams of residents to set up new Petites Cantines in their neighborhoods: finding and fitting out premises, mobilizing a community, raising funds, building the business model, recruiting the first employee...
- Strengthen the network:- support operating Petites Cantines in their management of operations: administrative and financial management and follow-up, employer's posture, welcoming posture, daily kitchen activities, supply circuit, sanitary control plan, patronage and diversity of diners...
- Extend the reach of the project beyond the Petites Cantines: support other food projects serving social cohesion, train and support companies in creating internal links, widely disseminate our impact to raise public awareness...
- Leading the Petites Cantines network: fostering mutual support and collective intelligence, organizing convivial working times, working on the well-being of employees and administrators...
A solid network and community, enabling us to welcome ever more guests around good food in a warm, friendly atmosphere!
- Strengthen the network:- support operating Petites Cantines in their management of operations: administrative and financial management and follow-up, employer's posture, welcoming posture, daily kitchen activities, supply circuit, sanitary control plan, patronage and diversity of diners...
- Extend the reach of the project beyond the Petites Cantines: support other food projects serving social cohesion, train and support companies in creating internal links, widely disseminate our impact to raise public awareness...
- Leading the Petites Cantines network: fostering mutual support and collective intelligence, organizing convivial working times, working on the well-being of employees and administrators...
A solid network and community, enabling us to welcome ever more guests around good food in a warm, friendly atmosphere!
4
1
quality meals and meetings
already funded30 difts
Action zones
Grand Est
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Île-de-France
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Hauts-de-France
We can't live without helping each other! It's this muscle - "I give, I receive, I give, I receive" - that we're going to reactivate to give the flavor of the social bond.
Diane Dupré la Tour
Co-founder
Dift gem2024 promotion
Les Petites Cantines is a certified association meeting these six criteria:
Financial stability
Innovation
Ambition
Governance
Transparency
Systemic impact
Earned labels
Sustainable development goals
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